Folding-machine for letters.



J. W. POLER. FOLDING MACHINE FOB LETTERS. APPLIOATION FILED 1 33.2, 1904. RENEWED FEB. 23, 1912.

Patented Aug. 26,1913

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1'.

J. W. POLER.

FOLDING MACHINE FOR LETTERS. APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 2, 1904. RENEWED r1213. 23, 1012. 7 F 1,0 ('1 ,5 ?8.

Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

7 SHEETSSHEET luuen-l oz J. W. POLER. FOLDING MACHINE FOR LETTERS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1904. RENEWED FEB. 23, 1912. 1,G?1,573. Patented Aug.26,1913.

7 SHEET3SHEET 3. O

J. W. POLER. FOLDING MACHINE FOR LETTERS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1904 RENEWED FEB. 23, 1912.

Patented Aug". 28, 1918.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Qnveukor J. W. POLER. FOLDING MACHINE FOR LETTERS. APPLICATION FILED FBB.2, 1904. RENEWED FEB. 23, 1912.

11 mm )2 6H m HE m mm mk w a P M \Q m Nb Q w m i uuenlvr- 1 JH in IIIIHUHIJIINI Illlllllli J. W.'POLER. FOLDING MACHINE FOR LETTERS. APPLIUATIION FILED FEB.2, 1904. RENEWED FEB. 23, 1912.

1,071,573. Patented Aug.26, 1913.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

J. W. POLER. FOLDING MACHINE FOB. LETTERS. APPLICATION FILED I'EB.2, 1904. RENEWED FEB. 23, 1912. 1 071 573 Patented Aug 26, 1913.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

r JO 7r {.(j. 2 4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J OHN W. POLER, OF BALTIMORE l, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO MOLYNEUX MAILING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ,BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

FOLDING-MACHINE FOR LETTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26,1913.

Application filed I-ebruary 2, 1904, Seria1 No. 191,720. Renewed February 23, 1912. Serial 1V0. 679,498.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, JOHN' W. POLER, a citizen 'of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines for Letters, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to mechanisms for folding letters or circulars.

It has for its object to provide a machine to which the letters may be fed and which will fold and deliver the said letters or eir- (-ulars ready to be inserted into envelops.

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing a mechanism embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line X-X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. at is a top plan view, partof the top plate being removed. Fig. 5 1s a vertical section on the line YY Fig. 3. Fig. (Sis a vertical cross section on the line /:Z of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a partial horizontal section. Fig. 8 is a partial bottom plan view. Fig. 9 is a. partial elevation opposite 'to that in Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a. perspect ve of one of the paper pushing devices. Fig. 11 is'a perspective of a part of another set of devices for pushing tie paper. Fig. 12 is a perspective of a part of a third set of paper pushing devices.- Fig. 13 is a perspective showing the sheet of paper after the first fold. .Fig. 14 is a perspective ofthe paper after the second bend. Fig. 15 is a perspective of the paper after the third bend. Figs. 16 and 17 show some of the details for initially supplying paper sheets tothe folding mechanism.

ln the drawings a frame work is shown having the bottom 1, the side walls 2 and 3, these being supported upon legs or standards 7. It will be understood that the frame-work can be modified in any desired way as any of several sorts will be suitable. The frame-work carries at the top a paper table or support having the horizontal plates H which have a slot or passageway "4 for t e downward passage of the sheets of paper. The paper table is provided with side guides, those upon one side being shown at 55 and those'upon the.

other at 5-5". The guide flange 5" is somewhat shorter than that at 5 for a purpose to be described.

horizontal wheel, 22.

6 represents the stop against which the paper impinges when it reaches the end of the inward movement and before the folding commences.

Power fox-actuating the operative parts is transmitted through the main shaft 8 which is mounted transversely in the frame above described there being also preferably a supplemental. bracket at 9 secured to the main frame for giving the shaft ample support. 011 the shaft 8 there are the spur wheel 10, the cam 11 the cam plate 12 and disk 13 carrying an eccentric pin. -The wheel 10 engages with the wheel 14 on a cross shaft 15. At the opposite end this cross shaft 15 has a gear wheel 16 which meshes with the wheel 17 on a shaft 18 par- The wheel 17 engages allel to that at 15. with the wheel 19 on another parallel shaft 20. Upon these two shafts, 18 and 20, are secured the first pair of paper gripping and advancing rolls, 21, 22. The shaft, 15,

The wheel, 27, also engages with anidler wheel, 30, on a stud shaft, 31, and'the latter wheel drives a wheel, 32, 0n the lower end of a shaft, 33. The wheel, 32, in turn eugages with the wheel, 34, onthe lower end of a verti al shaft, 35. On the shaft, 33, there is secured one of a vertical pair of Below the bevel wheel,

rollers, 38 and 39, the latter being secured to the shaft, 35.

40 is a vertical roller secured to the shaft,

26, and 41 is a companion roller secured to A the shaft, 29.

The three pairs of rolfers just referred to i are the principal means/for imparting the" three desired folds to the paper.

The paper is initi lly fed from its posi-' tion on the plates, 4.4r', 'to the first rollers, 2122 by means of a push her, 42, which. normally occupies a horizontal positionflon line directly above the planes of the top I paper bed. It is .intermittingly drawn gent line of the ro1iers,21-22. The paper is by these rollers bent and creased so as to be inthe condition and shape shown in ,I ig, 13. It drops from between the .rollers,

' 21 and 22, into the space at 39? by thesides of the first vertical rollers, 38 and39.

The reciprocating feed bar, 42,,is actuated as follows: It is attachedat its ends to sl de guides, 45, which are mounted in a guide way formed of stationary guides, 46, se-. cured to the frame. The slide guides,- 45,

extend downward some distance and the bottom has the form of rods, as at 47, passing through stationary guides or tracks, 48. -l9'-49 are springs, one at each'side otthe frameand each engaging with one of the slide guides, They normally tend'to push the bar, 42, tothe upper end of its path, its movement being limited by the stop plates, 50,. 5151 are-pins projecting from the 5.,slide guides, 45. With each pin'there en gages a rock bar or crank arm, one'at 53 and the other at 56. That at 53 is part'of a bell lever, 52 having the arm-54. This bell 1ever, 52', and the crank arm, 56, are secured tolhe rock shaft, 55, mounted transversely in the frame; 57, is a link extending from the crank arm, 54,,to'po1nts ad acent to the shaft, 8. It'ha's a cam notch, 58, which perf mits, the intermittent engagement of the 5 link, 57, with the eccentric or crank pin, 59,

on the disk, 13. It will 'be seen that at each revolution of the sliaft, 8,-thc pin will en gage temporarily with the'link, 57 and im part an endwise movement'to it which in turn .vill'ro'cl c-the bell lever and cause the arms, 53 and 56, to draw down on the slide bar, 45, of the paper pushing bar, 4-;2.

After the paper has been. brought down by the devices just descr bed to the rollers, 5 21 and 22, and has been'by them creased or folded, and hasbeen dep'osited-i'nthe space 3t), itzis then acted upon follows: 43' is the-second reciprocating and paper advancing device.- It has a vertically arranged bar supported by a slide guide, 00, at the bottom. This slide guideis mounted-iii a guide way, 61. It has a guide plate, 6,- below the frame plate, 1, and a guiding and retaining plate, 62, above. (33 is a spring 5 connected to"- the slide guide and also connected to a stationary'holder on the frame. The spring" normally holds :the. paper push bar, 13, in its rearmostposition. But it is iutermittiiigly advanced toward the tangent line of the rollers, 38and39, 'a sfollows: (34

is; a.riln-ating crank arm or linger situated behind-the bar, 43, and having itslo'wer end normally' incdntact with thebar, and at a point as near as possible tothe lower end of 35 the latter; 'lhe-erank arm, (l't,'is attached ward the cam] disk 11 on the, main shaft, 8.

This shaft has a cam, 67, which at each revolution of the shaft, 8, engages with the crank arm, 66, and imparts such motion thereto that through the rock shafts-65', and the crank arm, 6 it causes the bar, 43, to advance toward the rollers-38 and 39'. This movement is imparted to the bar, a3, immediately after the paperdrops from the rollers, 21 and 22, into the space, 39. The bar, a3, engages with the folds, 81 and 81, ofthe paper sheet at the line, 83, see Fig. 1-:t,a'i1d presses that line of the paper between the rollers, and 39. They immediately press against it and carry it over from the bar, 43, which immediately is returned under the action of the spring, 63. The paper under the pressure and rotation of the rollers,'38 and 39, is advanced toward those at 4:0-4:l. \Vhen it gets into proper position it is caused to more on lines transverse to those of its last movement, as follows: M is a .third paper pressing bar arranged to reciprocate toward and from the tangent line of the rollers, l04l. This bar, 44, has its lower end secured to a slide guide'68 mount" as to hold it in its inactive position. The .paper push bar, let, is advanced intermittingly by a thrust bar, 72, engaged by a lever, 73, The latter is pivoted at 74. to a frame bracket, At its upper end there is a pin and roller at 76 which is situated near the face of a cam disk, 12, the latter carrying the cam, 77. To hold the paper push bar, 1-4, in correct position Vertically there is preferably a supplemental guide provided by means of a slide rod, 78, fitted to a guide way at'79, which is here in the form of a tube extending in from the frame.

It will be seen that once during eachrevolution of the shaft, 8, the paper. bar, 44.

1 will be advanced toward the tangent line of the rollers, 40 and ell. This occurs iminediately after the paper has been carried away from the rollers, .38 and39. It reaches the 'osition adjacent to the rollers; 40 and all, andthe bar, 44, in the shape shown in Fig. 14'. The bar, {14,- presses against it on the line, 83', and pushes'it between the rollers, 4O and 41,.which immediately, grasp it and complete the folding of the sheet on 'said line, 83, and carries it through to the space or chamber at 10-} where it-is delivercd in the form and shape shown inFig. 15. In order to carry the paper properly from the rollers, 38 and '39. and place it in the correct relation with the rollers, 40 and 41,

use is made of the supplemental rollers, 87

85 top of the mass, and the follower, 109, moves roller, 87 f is driven by pressure and friction onl y. I At 90 there is a stationary paper guide in 3-; heform of a wall or bar so situated as to 'directthe' paper along the proper path.- On thother side of the paper bar,' 44,- there is a stationary paper guide composed of the relatively long arms, 91, and the relatively shortarms, 92, preferably arranged in an upper pair and a lower pair carried by a bracket, 93, secured to the frame.

' One of the rollers of each pair. is so mounted that it can yield slightly when demended; either because of the pressure from the bafrs,'42, 43, and 44, or because of vary"- aoing thickness of the paper. Of the first pair, roller 22 is the one that yields. The

shaft, '20, passes through elongated apertures, 94, inbearings at the sides of the frame. 95195 are bars which slide in guide 25 ways in the metal of the bearings and against these bars are springs, 96, which tend tokeep the bars, 95, and the shafts, 20, in their forward position. But when it is necessary for the roller, 22, to yield back- Ward this is permitted by the springs. "The tension of spring, 96, is adjusted by an eccentric abutment, 97.; Of the second pairof rollers, that at 39' is similarly mounted, that is to say, the'end portions of itsshaft, 35,

35.pass through elongated apertures in the frame, plates, 1, and 21 and against Lthe shaft ends bear springs,"-, whose tension can be adjusted-by the eccentric abutment, 35. The roller, 87 ',can-yield in similar 40 manner as its shaft, 89, which passes through I elongated apertures,-98, and bears against a spring, 99, held in place bysan adjusting eccentric, 100.- L'Theroller, 41, and its shaft ends pass through elongated-apertures, 101,

in the bearing plates, and against these ends springs, 102, press, which are held in place by adjusting eccentrics, 103. v The parts that have been above described can be used for folding sheets of paper when initially fed by hand. It is preferable,.

however, to deliver the sheets to the folder by automatic devices and in the drawings an improved mechanism for this purpose is shown.

105 indicates a receptacle adapted to. hold amass of folded sheets ofpaper such as. are to be folded in the above described apparatus. It hasa forward wall, 106, and side walls, 107, 'Oir' the rear side,=108, it is 'preferably left open so that; the papersheets can be readily put in position, 109 is a movable; bottom -\or follower for; this chamber and upon which the mass of paper rests. The

sheets are successively withdrawn ,fronrthe up with a speed coresp'onding to that ofthe withdrawal of t it: top sheets. This upward moyement can be accomplished in any desired way. Asshown, there is a threaded nut, 110, which projects down from-the bottom, 109. With it engages a nut, 111, which is intermittingly rotated by means of a ratchet wheel, 112, and the pawl, 113. The

pawl, 113, is pivoted on a reciprocating slide bar, 114, and receiving motion from a crank arm, 115, carried by a rock shaft, 116-. The rock shaft has at its other end a crank, 117, to which is pivoted a. link, 118, which in turn is pivoted to 'alever, 119, mounted at 120 upon a frame bracket. The lever, 119, is vibrated by means of a pin, 121, fitting in a cam groove, 122, in the disk, 123, secured to the main shaft, 8. At each revolution of the shaft there is transmitted tlirough the lever, 119, the link, 118, the crank shaft,116, and pawl, 113, a step movement to the ratchet wheel, 112, and to the nut, 111. This results in a slight upward movement of the follower, 109.

. The nut, 111, is formed in-two separable parts which are normally held together by means of a lock ring, 124, .and thispermits the opening of the nut when it is desired to quickly return the follower to its lowermost position.

The sheets of ,paper are automaticallyremoved from the top of the file in the receiver as follows: 125 is a gripping'device. Prefw.

erably it is of the nature of .a rubber cup.

As shown, it comprises a holder, 126, to

which is secured aring of rubber at 127,

there'being a chamber at 128. This gripper is brought down intermittingly upon the sheets and given a part-of arevolutiou at each operation. The sheets of paper in the initial pile in the holder, 105, liewith their longer lines at right angles to. the path which they take as they begin to move. through the folding mechanism. Each sheet at the top is turned in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, the turning continuing until one edge of the sheet comes against the guide flange at 5. The opposing guide flange 5" is cut away at 5, as above described, to allow of this quarter turn of the sheet. The gripper, 125, is thus rcciprocaied and partially rotated as follows: It is carried by a stem orsha ft, 129, which extends upward through 1 bearings ina bracket, 130, the bearings being shownat13l, 132. This shaftis sinrounded by a sleeve, 133, at its lower end,

this sleevebeing fitted tothe bearing, 132, 134 is .a spring connected to the shaft, 129, and to the bearingmet'ziLor bracket at 135. To wind, or store force 'in', the spring, use is made'of the hand-groove,. 136, in the hearing, 131, in which travels a; pin, 137, secured to the shaft, 129. Theshaft, 129, is intermittingly moved upward longitudinally by means of a lever, 138, which engages with the sleeve, 133. As the shaft moves upward 140 is a notch in the end of the sleeve, 133;; When the shaft, 129, is caused"to-partially,

revolve, as described,thc pin 1-39, reaches and seats itself in; the"notch' i40. Thenwhen the .lever 138 moves'downward,- the shaft, 129, follows, becausejof the downward acting tension otthe 1sp1filig,;'13-l-, the pin,"- 137, during this downward movement travel ing in the vertical straight portion of the cam-slot." When the shaft, ]2t) and the gripper, have reached thelower'pomt in their. travel, the gripper engages: with the top sheet of the paper just. at the instant that the pin, 137, reaches the bottom horizontal straight part of the cam-slot. lhis permits the torsitu al tensionof the spring;

134:, to exert itself upon the shaft, 129, and upon-the gripper, 125, imparting 'a quarter of a revolution to them and a correspond ng partof a turn to the top. sheetiofpaper After the sheet of paper has been turned from the position occupied by it -iit theholder, 105, tot hat \vhiehjt'takes when commencing to inorelh'rough thefolding-inecha nisin, it is grasped hyan initial feed mecha:

nism which causes it to more longitudinally over the bed plates 4 and l up to, a1 1d verscly in the frame in such a position as have the upper line of its surtaceln or slightly above the horizontah plane of the paper sheet after it'has been turned by the:

gripper, 125. This j'UliCY'l S eonstantlyjrm tilting, being driven by a cord or belt"; 1&3,

which engages with the pulley, 144, on' the roller shaft, and with theldriving pulley, 145.; on the shaft 2-0 of .tlie roll 22. The roller, 142, isintended for exerting pressln-c on theupper surface of the Sli CLi; of paper.

It is mounted on a swiiwin" arm or frame M6. ".lhese arepiroted outside of tlre main frame as at 147. One of these has an arm, 148, which carries apin and roller, 149, norlnally resting upon the upper edge of; the

above described crankarin, 53; At 150 is a spring connected to thisa rm, acting to draw. it' downward and to lift the roller, H2, 11 It will be seen that with these parts there is an intermitting,pressure exerted u'po'nthe bottom roll 14 1,'and when such pressure is exerted; any paper that is betweeiythe rollers will be advanced hccause of the rotation of the lower one. I

The action of the several parts and. the

mode of operation of the entire machine above deseribedwill be readily understood tronrthe draw ngs.

per, 125,-elevate'd,-thesteps t-hattake place and, just as it reaches the lower limit of its -movement,. it receives a quarter revolutioni; which turns the topsheet of paper in the2 :line, 83, and forced between the 'rollersof- "the second pair. The first'transversetfold Poweris lmpartcd to the main shaft, 8

in a suitable way by means of the beit and belt pulley. Assuming that the roller, 142, is in its elevated position and that a sheet of paper is at'the t0pof tl1e pilfe'in the holder, 105, and in proper position, with the gripare as follows; The gripper, 125,descends" way described into alinement with the .pas-

i sagewayr of the foldingdevices. The instant the paper takes this position, the roller, 142, descends and presses upon the'- roller, 14:1, which feeds'it forward 'until'its front edge strikes the stop flange," 6, Thereupon' the paper bar 42, immediately descends,- crea'sing the paper in the middle and delivering itf'; to the tangent line- 0f the rollers, 21 and 22; which finish tl1e""'ben ding or creasing andigg forces the-paper downward. It then drops?"- into the space at; 39? andis instantly engaged by the knife bar or' fe'ed bar, 43, along the '2 as in Fig.-14,-is here imparted 1 lit-"then passes between the rollers, 87 and 87-, into pro'penp'osition"in front of the rollers; 40"

-"'and-'4: 1,-' of the third pair, where it is imme- I "di'atelyengaged bythe knife bar or 'push' bang-44; along thcline, S3, and is caught by these rollers and the third or final crease or bendiis given to it. t

l, In a paper folding machine, the com f bmation of a pair of"ho1.-1zontally arranged folding"rolls, a feed bar adapted to direct asheetjot' p'aper downward between said .rollsfa pair of folding rolls arranged ver.-v

ticallyheneiith said pair of l'lOIlZOIIlJtLl fold mg rolls and having their .plane of tangency at right angles to the plane of tangency of said horizontal pair of folding rolls, and at one side of the central transverse plane through the said horizontal folding rolls,=11q a -teed bar fordirecting a sheet of paperbotween said-pair of vertical folding rolls, a third pair of folding rolls arranged vertically and having thei'rj plane of tangency at right angles to theplane of tangency of 1'15 said pair of seeondfolding rolls;"afeed barfor direcging the sheet between said last pair of'fo ding rolls, a pair of vertically or 'rang sheet-guiding and advancing rolls interposedbetween' said l-pairsfof vertically rm arranged folding rolls, means for simultaneously operating one roll of each of said pairs of rolls, and means for timing the operationrelatively-to each other=of the feed barsfo'r each pair of folding rolls.

1 2: 2. In a paper folding machine; the coinbination of a pair of horizontally disposed 1 initial folding-rolls, means for feeding af' shectof paper. thereto, a pair of -verti'cally disposed folding roll s arranged at rightan- 134 gles to the primary folding rolls, means for feeding the sheet of paper to the said second pair of folding rolls, a pair of rotary guiding and advancing rolls arranged to receive the said sheet as it issues from the said second pair of folding rolls, a third pair-of folding rolls arranged parallel to the said second pair of folding rolls, and means for jeeding to the said third pair of folding rolls the sheet of paper directed from the said pair of guiding and advancing rolls.

In a paper folding machine, the combination of a pair of horizontally disposed vfolding rolls, a pairof vertically disposed folding rolls arranged beneath and tangent to the vertical plane of contact of said first pair of rolls and adapted to make a fold in the sheetof paper as folded by the first pair of rolls on a line at one side of the central line of said folded sheet, and at right angles to the line of the first made fold, a second pair of vertically disposed folding rolls arranged tangent to the vertical plane of contact of said second pair of folding -rolls and adapted to make a fold in the folded sheet as delivered from the first pair of rolls, which last fold will overlap the fold made by the said second pair of rolls, a plurality of feed bars, each adapted to direct the sheet to be folded between the rolls of one of said pairs of folding rolls, a main power shaft, actuating devices interposed between said power shaft and each of said feed bars, and power transmitting devices interposed between said ower shaft and one roll of each of said pairs of rolls. v

4. In a paper folding machine, the combination of a pair ofhorizontally disposed initial folding rolls, two pairs of vertically disposed folding rolls arranged beneath the horizontal plane containing the axes'of said initial folding. rolls, one of said pairs of vertically disposed folding rolls being arranged tangent to the vertical plane of contact of said horizontally disposed folding rolls and adapted to fold a sheet of paper after it has been folded by the initial pair of folding rolls, and the second air of. vertically disposed folding rolls be ng, arranged'tangent to the vertical plane of contact of said first described pair of vertically disposed folding rolls and adapted to fold the sheet of paper after it has been folded by the first pair of vertical folding rolls,

feed bars, each adapted to direct the sheet of paper between one of said pairs of fold,

ingrolls, a horizontally disposed cam shaft arranged at one side of said pairs of vertical folding rolls, actuating devices inter posed between said cam shaft and each of said feed bars, and power transmitting devices interposed between said cam shaft and one roll of each of said pairs of folding rolls.

5. In a folding machine, the combination of a pair of horizontal'folding rolls, a vertically reciprocating feed bar adapted to be moved into and out of the inlet between said rolls, rock levers arrangedon opposite sides of the machine and each engaging downwardly with a pin or shoulder at one end of the feed bar, a rock shaft carrying said rock levers, springs operating to raise said feed bar, and a cam operatively connected with said rock shaft and adapted to turn the same and the rock levers in the direction for depressing said feed bar.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame having horizontally arranged top and bottom walls and a supplemental bearing plate between them,

the top wall having a guideway for the sheet of paper to be folded and a transversely arranged slot through which the sheet may be pressed, a pair of horizontall disposedfolding rolls having their lineo tangency directly beneath said slot, a feed bar for dlrecting the sheet throughsaid slot and be tween said folding rolls, a pair of vertically disposed rolls having their plane of tangency at right angles tothe plane of tangt one side of the vertical central transverse plane through the: latter, a'second pair of 'ency of said pair of horizontal rolls, and

vertical folding rolls having their plane of.

tangency at right angles to the plane of tangency of said'first pair of vertical rolls,

all of said vertical rolls being mounted at their uper ends in bearings carried by said supplemental bearing plate and at their lower ends in bearings carried by said bottom plate, feed bars, each adapted to direct the sheet of paper betweenthe rolls of one of said pairs of vertically disposed rolls, and means for actuating one roll ,of each pair of folding rolls.

In testimony whereof afiix my signer ture in presence of two wltnesses.

JOHN POLER.

Witnesses:

Tnos. KELL BRADFORD, LEE PUncELL; 

